A safe home at Ella’s

What is a safe house, and what does it provide to survivors?

When a woman arrives at one of Ella's safe houses, there are flowers in their room. A welcome card. Someone to help her arrange her room however she wants it.

It sounds simple. But for many of the women we work with, it is the first time anyone has ever asked them how they would like things.

A safe house is so much more than just a roof over someone’s head. For many women at Ella’s it is the first place they have felt safe and loved in years or ever. For many, it is the first time they have had a space of their own.

What survivors need

The women we work with have often been through years of violence, control and exploitation. Many have experienced multiple types of abuse. Some have been controlled by others since childhood.

When they first arrive, many of the women are exhausted and are battling through complex trauma. What they need most is time, space and safety. And the knowledge that someone is on their side.

What Ella's safe houses provide

We run eight safe houses in London. Each one is a real home, not a hostel or a temporary shelter. Residents have their own room, access to communal areas, and the support of our team whenever they need it.

Our caseworkers visit regularly to support residents with whatever is most pressing that week, whether that is a medical appointment, a conversation about the future, or simply someone to talk to.

We also help with the practical things that can feel overwhelming after years of being controlled. Opening a bank account. Accessing healthcare. Learning to trust that the decisions you make about your own life are yours to make.

Support looks different for every woman we work with. For some, the priority is rest and safety. For others, they want to start studying or begin work. 

Why long-term support matters so much

The government provides short-term support for trafficking survivors through a system called the National Referral Mechanism. But that support has a time limit. It was never designed to address years of trauma.

When that support ends, survivors might need ongoing support to stay safe and further support to build a life.

This is the reason Ella’s exists and the gap we fill. Our support is long-term because recovery is long-term. There is no shortcut.

For survivors, we are not a stepping stone to something else. We walk with them for as long as they need us.

How you can help

Ella's service runs on the generosity of donors. Every gift helps cover the cost of accommodation, caseworker time, and the small things that make a house feel like a home.

A regular gift of £13 a month can cover translation costs for a survivor who is still learning English. A one-off gift of £80 can cover towels, bedding, toiletries and flowers for a new resident on her first day.

If you would like to support this work, you can donate at ellas.org.uk/donate. Thank you.

Photos: Tom Price